2000
#20,382
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,212
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.45
Rare Last name
Qin
A Chinese surname derived from the name of the Qin state or referring to the Qin dynasty.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,879 Americans carry the last name Qin. That puts it at #6,377 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 58,301 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Qin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Qin with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.9K
1 in 58,301
Census rank
#6,377
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,127 bearers of the surname Qin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6377th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Qin, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Qin
The surname "QIN" originates from China and has a long and rich history dating back to the Qin Dynasty, which ruled from 221 BC to 206 BC. This was one of the most influential dynasties in Chinese history, known for its significant achievements, including the unification of China and the construction of the Great Wall.
The name "QIN" is derived from the state of Qin, which was located in the western part of modern-day Shaanxi Province. During the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC), the Qin state gradually gained control over other kingdoms and eventually emerged victorious, establishing the Qin Dynasty under the leadership of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of a unified China.
One of the earliest known references to the surname "QIN" can be found in historical records from the Qin Dynasty itself. Many nobles and officials during this period bore the surname, indicating its prominence and association with the ruling class.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the surname "QIN." One such figure was Qin Hui (1090-1155), a renowned Confucian scholar and philosopher during the Song Dynasty. His works significantly influenced the development of Neo-Confucianism and had a lasting impact on Chinese intellectual thought.
Another prominent figure was Qin Jiushao (1202-1261), a mathematician and astronomer of the Song Dynasty. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of geometry and algebraic equations.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Qin Qiong (1572-1642) was a renowned playwright and literary scholar. His works, such as "The Peony Pavilion," are considered masterpieces of Chinese drama and have greatly influenced the development of Chinese literature.
In more recent times, Qin Xuantong (1887-1939) was a prominent military leader and warlord during the Warlord Era of China in the early 20th century. He played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the country during that turbulent period.
Qin Gang (born 1966) is a contemporary Chinese diplomat who has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2022. He has been an influential figure in China's foreign policy and diplomatic relations with other nations.
The surname "QIN" has its roots in the ancient state and dynasty of the same name, reflecting the historical significance and cultural legacy of this influential period in Chinese history. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made notable contributions across various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of Chinese civilization.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Qin
Among Census respondents with the surname Qin, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Qin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Qin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.7% · 4,909
- White2.6% · 133
- Two or more races0.9% · 45
- Black or African American0.6% · 30
- Hispanic or Latino0.2% · 9
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Qin
Qin appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#11,759
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,664
+1,452 bearers (+119.8%)
Per 100,000 0.90
Rank movement Up 8,623 places
2020
#6,377
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,127
+2,463 bearers (+92.5%)
Per 100,000 1.72
Rank movement Up 5,382 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #20,382 | 1,212 | 0.45 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,759 | 2,664 | 0.90 | +1,452 bearers (+119.8%) | Up 8,623 places |
| 2020 | #6,377 | 5,127 | 1.72 | +2,463 bearers (+92.5%) | Up 5,382 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Qin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,759 | #6,377 | 45.8% |
| Count | 2,664 | 5,127 | 92.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.90 | 1.72 | 90.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Qin bearers went from 2,664 to 5,127 (+92.5% change). The surname moved up 5,382 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,759 to #6,377.
FAQ
Qin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Qin?
Name Census estimates that about 5,879 living Americans carry the surname Qin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 58,301 residents.
How common is Qin?
Qin ranks #6,377 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.72 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 5,127 people with the surname Qin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,879), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.72 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.72 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Qin.
Has Qin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Qin went from 2,664 recorded bearers to 5,127. That is an increase of 2,463 (+92.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #11,759 to #6,377.
What does the Census say about the background of Qin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Qin, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Qin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.7% (4,909 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Qin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (95.7%), White (2.6%), Two or More Races (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Qin (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Qin mean?
A Chinese surname derived from the name of the Qin state or referring to the Qin dynasty. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Qin (1.72 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Qin?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.